Image Readies "Turf" Hardcover for July

Berkeley, CA – 15 June 2011 – The flappers, mobsters, vampires and aliens of Jonathan Ross and Tommy Lee Edwards' comic book masterpiece will soon all be bound together in one beautiful hardcover TURF collection. Readers will get their hands on this completely out-of-this-world book next month, and the creators have thrown in plenty of extras for fans to look forward to.

Besides the entire run of the critically acclaimed and distinctive story of TURF (issues #1-5), this tome’s generous extras begin with a thoughtful introduction by writer Mark Millar (Kick-Ass), as well as concept art and behind-the-scenes process photos. Not only that, but this all-inclusive hardcover edition contains one of the most impressive displays of comics prowess today, with a gallery of pin-ups and covers by comics legends such as Jim Steranko, William Stout, Michael Kaluta, Dave Gibbons and Duncan Fegredo.

"I feel very privileged to have my work collected in such a manner,” said Edwards. “TURF is such a dense character driven story, and I'm glad that people will get the chance to digest it all in one beautifully designed volume. Plus, I selfishly enjoy seeing the art oversized like this."

Not only have some of the best artists in comics contributed their work to the series, TURF has garnered the respect and appreciation of some of the industry’s most critically acclaimed creators.

"TURF is unlike anything you've ever seen. A magnificent 5-course meal served in a single platter. Ruthless Gangsters, Leaping Vampires, Biomechanical Aliens all converge in a Turf war of Cosmic scope. It's not surprising to see a multicultural collision like this come out of Mr. Ross and Mr. Edwards' brains, what is shocking is that it works so well. Fast-paced, efficiently told and quite addictive!!" – Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy, Pan’s Labyrinth)

"Before it came out, I think most of us had TURF pegged as a novelty. After all, Jonathan Ross is famous for many things, but writing comics isn't one of them. We were wrong. It's an audacious story excellently told that makes the most of the comics medium - in this case the art of Tommy Lee Edwards, a man up to the demands of gangster-vampire-alien-what-the-hell that Ross's tale demands. Jonathan Ross is not a novelty act at all. He's here to stay." -- Neil Gaiman (Sandman, Good Omens)

In TURF, everyone is vying to stake their claim on a younger New York in the blinding glitz and grit of the 1920’s. From the newly immigrated vampiric Dragonmir family, a wise guy named Eddie Falco, a stranded space-alien known as Squeed, and a determined young reporter named Susie, TURF’s ensemble cast are unexpectedly tangled together. By way of unlikely alliances, corrupt authorities and amazing plot twists, this cast of characters careen toward an all-out battle for New York… and their lives!

TURF HC, a 192-page full-color horror/noir/sci-fi comic book for $39.99, will be available at a comic store near you on July 20, 2011. For more information, visit www.TurfComic.com.

ABOUT JONATHAN ROSSJonathan Ross is one of the highest profile broadcasters in the UK. He has hosted talk shows on all the major British Channels, and returns with The Jonathan Ross Show on prime time Saturday nights this fall. He has also worked in Radio and has won lots and lots of pretty awards, none of which he knows quite where to put. He received the Stan Lee Best Newcomer Award for TURF. That made him very happy. In a career that spans over twenty years Ross has often been associated with cult entertainment. His award winning series The Incredibly Strange Film Show and it’s sequel, The Son of the Incredibly Strange Film Show won a fan following that remembers them fondly to this day. He was responsible for the first western television interview with Jackie Chan, Tsui Hark and many other leading Hong Kong stars. He has authored programmes on subjects as diverse as Korean Cinema, Drive-Through Funeral parlours in Louisiana and Steve Ditko. He has a collection of comics and original comic book art so large and valuable it frightens even him.

ABOUT TOMMY LEE EDWARDSAfter studying film and illustration at the Art Center College of Design, Edwards took the comics industry by storm with his illustrations on such titles as X-Men, Daredevil, Marvel 1985, Batman, and The Question. Proving to be one of the most respected and versatile artists working today, he has also designed video games like Command and Conquer, James Bond, and Prey. Edwards created the licensing style guides for films such as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Men in Black II, Superman Returns, Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Batman Begins. For Lucasfilm, he’s created countless pieces for books, merchandise, magazines, and posters. Edwards perhaps feels most at home putting his imagination and storytelling flare to the test while working as a conceptual and storyboard artist for film. He's collaborated with the Hughes Brothers on their Denzel Washington epic The Book of Eli, and has also contributed to the design of upcoming live action productions of Akira and Masters of the Universe. Currently Edwards is hard at work on GOLDEN AGE, his next creator-owned comic with Jonathan Ross.

ABOUT IMAGE COMICSImage Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of five major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, Skybound and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.